The Father Himself Loves You, Because …

David W Palmer

(John 16:25–27 NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. {26} In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; {27} for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”

We all know that God is love, and that he loves the world (See: John 3:16, 1 John 4:16); but in this statement, our truthful Lord Jesus said that the Father loves us “because ….” In saying this, the Master reveals that there are conditions on the Father’s love for us. What are they?

• Because you have loved me
• Because you have believed that I came forth from God

The apprentices agreed that they believed this about Jesus and went on to give their reason:

(John 16:30 The Holy Aramaic Scriptures) “Now we know that you know every thing, and you don’t need that someone should ask you with regard to this. We believe that you have proceeded from Alaha (God).”

At this point, Jesus’s apprentices realized that Jesus was omniscient—knowing everything that can be known. What’s more, they had concluded that neither they, nor anyone else, needed to question him any further for evidence of this; to them, this truth about Jesus was already a settled fact. They knew that Jesus had come from God, and that he knows everything that can be known.

Without doubt, Jesus’s apprentice leaders knew and believed this truth about Jesus. But knowing and believing this about him does not mean that you have put everything he said into practice, or that you are acting as though what he said is true. For example, the disciples didn’t seem to act wholeheartedly on the warning Jesus gave them about their need to pray in Gethsemane:

(Matthew 26:41–56 NLT) “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” ... {43} When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. ... {47} And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. … “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” ... {56} … At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

The Lord—who knew everything—knew without a doubt that his followers should have been praying with him in the garden that evening. Even though they believed and confessed that he knew everything, they still didn’t act as though what he said was true. Are we like this today? Do we really act like what Jesus says is true, or does our flesh, reputation, worldview, or pride stop us?

Jesus also said that his Father loved them because they had loved him. According to what he said in the following verses, this means that they had begun to obey him:

(John 14:15, 21 NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. ... {21} Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

As we saw in book 3 of this series—Supervised Assignments—after a shaky start, Jesus’s apprentices had become reasonably competent at obeying his illogical instructions. This was especially seen in the days leading up to the last supper: they obediently went and retrieved the donkey and colt in obedience to Jesus’s illogical instruction; and they had no hesitation in obeying him in following the man carrying the jug of water into the house, where they prepared the catering for the upper room Passover meal. They had eagerly responded with prompt obedience to his call to follow him, and in his many other instructions, including: cross the lake, give out bread and fish, make the people sit on the grass, etc.